**Disney After Hours - Animal Kingdom** FAQ & Discussion Thread

Is the entire park open to walk around? Even though no Africa attractions are open can you still walk around back there? Checking things out in solitude is appealing to me.
 
Is the entire park open to walk around? Even though no Africa attractions are open can you still walk around back there? Checking things out in solitude is appealing to me.

We weren't allowed back there, there were CMs and ropes blocking off the paths.
 
I have considered doing the event, but felt as though the value might not be as great as MK or HS. I would assume that Flight of Passage is the most popular, and that it would still carry a lengthy line. Can anyone give me some idea whether it is worth or somewhat worth the price?
 


I have considered doing the event, but felt as though the value might not be as great as MK or HS. I would assume that Flight of Passage is the most popular, and that it would still carry a lengthy line. Can anyone give me some idea whether it is worth or somewhat worth the price?
We did this during spring break this year, so crazy-crowded time! It was worth it for us during such a crowded time, though I agree not as much of a value as it is at MK. I think the first time we rode FOP, it was about 20 minutes from when we walked in until we sat down on the Banshee. The second time, not as long. It takes a bit of time because there's the pre-show that you can't skip, and a lot of queue to walk through. No wait to speak of for River Journey or whatever it is called ("Blue Pirates of the Caribbean").

We had annual passes, so arrived early enough to use FP+ for Safari and Lion King, had dinner, and watched the regular time Rivers of Light. Then we did every after hours thing except character meet and greets. Rode FOP twice and everything else once. Left shortly before the event ended.
 
We did this during spring break this year, so crazy-crowded time! It was worth it for us during such a crowded time, though I agree not as much of a value as it is at MK. I think the first time we rode FOP, it was about 20 minutes from when we walked in until we sat down on the Banshee. The second time, not as long. It takes a bit of time because there's the pre-show that you can't skip, and a lot of queue to walk through. No wait to speak of for River Journey or whatever it is called ("Blue Pirates of the Caribbean").

We had annual passes, so arrived early enough to use FP+ for Safari and Lion King, had dinner, and watched the regular time Rivers of Light. Then we did every after hours thing except character meet and greets. Rode FOP twice and everything else once. Left shortly before the event ended.
Cool, sounds like it might be worth it somewhat. I really enjoyed the Magic Kingdom one, was less impressed with HS one, but there were a few unfortunate attraction circumstances at HS. I really enjoy the lack of pressure at these events.
 
I didn’t get my money’s worth from this event but it was entirely my fault. I should’ve rested a while before the event. My feet were already in pain before the event even started. I didn’t even stay very long. My advice for those of us getting older is to rest before the event & don’t get to AK too early. It’s a big park so know your limitations if you have them. I will definitely do things differently if I have the opportunity to attend an after hours event again in the future.
 


I didn’t get my money’s worth from this event but it was entirely my fault. I should’ve rested a while before the event. My feet were already in pain before the event even started. I didn’t even stay very long. My advice for those of us getting older is to rest before the event & don’t get to AK too early. It’s a big park so know your limitations if you have them. I will definitely do things differently if I have the opportunity to attend an after hours event again in the future.
I've found that its best do a park in the morning, take a break for several hours and then head into the DAH park about a hour or two before the event.
 
I have considered doing the event, but felt as though the value might not be as great as MK or HS. I would assume that Flight of Passage is the most popular, and that it would still carry a lengthy line. Can anyone give me some idea whether it is worth or somewhat worth the price?

I have done both and for me, the value of the MK DAH is much greater than at AK. At MK you get just about the entire parks worth of rides open, at AK it is quite limited. The priority for my son during the AK one was FOP, which we rode 4 times. But, it is about 25 minutes each time to walk through the queue (no waits) and do both pre-show rooms and then the ride and the long exit walk out. We were still able to do Na'vi River and Dinosaur plus 2 snack breaks in our 3 hour event. We left about 20 minutes early. Everest had been closed for most of our night (it was rainy) and it opened up just as we were leaving and decided not to walk all the way back. We could've gotten a couple rides on there if we had. We enjoyed it for sure, but it is definitely not as much bang for your buck as MK unless you really want to ride FOP several times. I would do it again, but if I had to choose only 1 of the 2 events, I would go with MK for sure.
 
I have done both and for me, the value of the MK DAH is much greater than at AK. At MK you get just about the entire parks worth of rides open, at AK it is quite limited. The priority for my son during the AK one was FOP, which we rode 4 times. But, it is about 25 minutes each time to walk through the queue (no waits) and do both pre-show rooms and then the ride and the long exit walk out. We were still able to do Na'vi River and Dinosaur plus 2 snack breaks in our 3 hour event. We left about 20 minutes early. Everest had been closed for most of our night (it was rainy) and it opened up just as we were leaving and decided not to walk all the way back. We could've gotten a couple rides on there if we had. We enjoyed it for sure, but it is definitely not as much bang for your buck as MK unless you really want to ride FOP several times. I would do it again, but if I had to choose only 1 of the 2 events, I would go with MK for sure.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I may just give it a shot.
 
I have done both and for me, the value of the MK DAH is much greater than at AK. At MK you get just about the entire parks worth of rides open, at AK it is quite limited. The priority for my son during the AK one was FOP, which we rode 4 times. But, it is about 25 minutes each time to walk through the queue (no waits) and do both pre-show rooms and then the ride and the long exit walk out. We were still able to do Na'vi River and Dinosaur plus 2 snack breaks in our 3 hour event. We left about 20 minutes early. Everest had been closed for most of our night (it was rainy) and it opened up just as we were leaving and decided not to walk all the way back. We could've gotten a couple rides on there if we had. We enjoyed it for sure, but it is definitely not as much bang for your buck as MK unless you really want to ride FOP several times. I would do it again, but if I had to choose only 1 of the 2 events, I would go with MK for sure.
We've also done both parties, and after last night's AKAH (our 2nd time for AK) we just didn't see the value. FoP 3 times, river journey once, tricerstops spin once, EE four times and that was all we had time for. (Which, compared to a typical day IS still an accomplishment... but if you don't enjoy those rides, there isn't much else to do there during the parties.) The snack carts are also spread pretty far apart so there's that. AK also boxes the popcorn which wasn't very fresh.
 
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I apologize in advance as I am sure the answer is somewhere among the 75 pages. We are doing the DAH on 10/5. what rides are actually running during that time? thank you.
 
I will do DAH at the MK or AK anytime they offer them. I think the value is there for both. AK is wonderful to just walk around and enjoy the park when it’s quiet and not so hot! We go in the evening just early enough to get 3 FPS in before DAH starts.

I did it with just my grandson a few months ago. My daughter joined us on this last trip and I had to convince her to go, she was hesitant to pay that much for just 3 hrs. Once there, she was hooked. She kept saying I’d do this again if there wasn’t a single rode open! lol AK at night is amazing.
 
I am having a hard time deciding between the AK AH and the MK Christmas Party. I have never been to AK. I went to MK a few years ago but we weren't able to do many rides.
 
I am having a hard time deciding between the AK AH and the MK Christmas Party. I have never been to AK. I went to MK a few years ago but we weren't able to do many rides.

Having done both the Christmas party and AK DAH in recent years, I would pick the AK DAH. Since you’ve never been to AK before, getting into AK before the party starts would hopefully allow time for you to ride Safari and maybe time for a show, certainly time for you to walk around and enjoy the amazing park. Then the DAH would allow you to ride the headliners (FoP, Everest, Dinosaur, NRJ) without FPs or long waits. The Christmas party just seemed too crowded for us to really enjoy MK.
 
Omigosh we just booked this!! Nov 19th! ::squeal!!::

Ok, so many questions. @GADisneyDad14 thanks for all you do in maintaining this (and other) threads! So helpful!

Is there any consensus on “best strategy” for the night? From trip reports, looks like many have done:

A. Show up around 6:30?
B. Fast pass something. Have there been recent problems with using FP with a special event ticket? If park closes at 8, I would guess I could only book one FP in the 7-8 hour? Don’t want it to mess up my allotted FPs for the rest of my trip though...
C. Start at EE when crowds still there, then Dinosaur, then work your way over to pandora?
D. PARKING!! We will be driving. Will trams be running end of night? That is a mighty big parking lot.

So excited!! Any other tips/tricks appreciated!!
:banana::banana::banana:
 
When I was there last March I believe the safari closed early, 6:30 for an 8:30 park closing. I would check for that if I were you and maybe head to that first. The year before last I remember going on the safari at night and it was pretty cool for a change. It looks like last year in November, the closing of the ride switched from 7:45 to 6:30. not sure about now or whats happening this year.
 
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